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Messages to Young People
Confidence in Self Fatal
If Satan can so befog and deceive the human mind, and lead mortals
to think there is an inherent power in themselves to accomplish great
and good works, they cease to rely upon God to do that for them which
they think exists in themselves to do. They acknowledge not a superior
power. They give not God the glory He claims, and which is due to
His great and excellent Majesty. Satan’s object is thus accomplished.
He exults that fallen man presumptuously exalts himself, as he exalted
himself in heaven, and was thrust out. He knows that the ruin of man
is just as sure if he exalts himself as his was certain.
Destroying Confidence
He has failed in his temptations to Christ in the wilderness. The
plan of salvation has been carried out. The dear price has been paid for
man’s redemption. And now Satan seeks to tear away the foundation
of the Christian’s hope, and turn the minds of men in a channel that
they may not be benefited or saved by the great sacrifice offered. He
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leads fallen man, through his “all deceivableness of unrighteousness,”
to believe that he can do very well without an atonement; that he need
not depend upon a crucified and risen Saviour; that man’s own merits
will entitle him to God’s favor, and then he destroys man’s confidence
in the Bible, well knowing if he succeeds here, and the detector which
places a mark upon himself is destroyed, he is safe.
He fastens the delusion upon minds that there is no personal devil,
and those who believe this make no effort to resist and war against that
which does not exist, and poor blind mortals finally adopt the maxim,
“Whatever is, is right.” They acknowledge no rule to measure their
course. Satan leads many to believe that prayer to God is useless, and
but a form. He well knows how needful is meditation and prayer, to
keep Christ’s followers aroused to resist his cunning and deceptions.
Satan’s devices will divert the mind from these important exercises,
that the soul may not lean for help upon the mighty One, and obtain
strength from Him to resist his attacks....
It will serve his purpose well if we neglect the exercise of prayer,
for then his lying wonders are more readily received. Satan accom-
plishes his object in setting his deceitful temptations before man, that